Selection for human immunodeficiency virus type 1 envelope glycosylation variants with shorter V1-V2 loop sequences occurs during transmission of certain genetic subtypes and may impact viral RNA levels.

ABSTRACT: Designing an effective human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) vaccine will rely on understanding which variants, from among the myriad of circulating HIV-1 strains, are most commonly transmitted and determining whether such variants have an Achilles heel. Here we show that heterosexually acquired subtype A HIV-1 envelopes have signature sequences that include shorter V1-V2 loop sequences and fewer predicted N-linked glycosylation sites relative to the overall population of circulating variants. In contrast, recently transmitted subtype B variants did not, and this was true for cases where the major risk factor was homosexual contact, as well as for cases where it was heterosexual contact. This suggests that selection during HIV-1 transmission may vary depending on the infecting subtyp

SUBMITTER: Chohan B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1091724 | biostudies-literature | 2005 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature